Dallas Mavericks forward Markieff Morris (13) Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Markieff Morris puts Nikola Jokic on notice, vows revenge

In 2021, Markieff Morris and Nikola Jokic had a well-documented altercation. Almost two years later, the fall-out from that incident is still bubbling away. During a recent appearance on the "All The Smoke" podcast, Morris vowed to get his revenge on the two-time MVP. 

“So, the shot was — it was a little hard. It was like a little whiplash,” Morris said. “To be 350 [lbs], catching me off guard, he really ain’t do s***... So, it really wasn’t one of those things where I was injured or in pain or anything like that. … He snuck me, yeah. It was a sucker shot. But he gon’ get his, though. Don’t trip.”

The incident occurred when Morris fouled Jokic during a basketball play, and then Jokic ran him down while his back was turned. You can watch the incident in the clip below. 

The NBA is an entertainment company. It's designed for families to attend and enjoy. There's no room for violence or revenge within the confines of the game.

Morris's comments are concerning. The veteran forward clearly still harbors some resentment for what transpired between him and Jokic. Following his recent words, the NBA should step in and de-escalate the situation before it becomes a problem. 

The NBA has come a long way since "Malice at the Palace," yet comments like those from Morris can quickly create another negative moment in league history. Jokic was in the wrong for his part in the incident back in 2021. There's no denying that. However, Morris will be in the wrong if he continues to seek out revenge, regardless of whether he believes it to be justified. 

In recent months, the NBA has received significant amounts of bad press. It's in the league's best interest to get a handle on this situation before it's too late. Otherwise, we will all be saying "I told you so" as we look back retrospectively.  

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